Escalator



May 4, 1954 L. NoRMANDEAu '2,677,451

ESCALATOR Filed June 22, 195s 2 Shalom-sm# 1 May 4, 1954 Filed June 22, 1953 L.. NORMANDEAU ESCALATOR '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ESCALATOR Louis Normandeau, Rosemont, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application June 22, 1953, Serial No. 363,148

6 Claims. 1

The present invention pertains to a novel esca lator for carrying persons up and down from one level to another in various structures, such as department stores, railway stations, and the like. The escalator is of the stair type commonly known as moving stairs.

The principal object of the invention is to provide such an escalator in which an endless series of stairs carries passengers both up and down a ramp, as distinguished from escalators that require two series of stairs, one for each direction. The stairs are interconnected but cannot normally maintain this relation in changing their direction of vertical movement.

rPhe solution of the latter problem is another object of the invention. The series of stairs passes around a horizontal Wheel at each end of the ramp. Thel connection between adjacent stairs is a horizontal pivot which is also adapted to be shifted vertically. Each of the wheels has a bevelled edge which causes the individual stairs to turn on their pivots as they pass around the wheels. This action is automatic by reason of the rm engagement of the stairs with the edges of the wheels.

At the approach side of each wheel is a guide roller that aids in maintaining the stairs in their inclined position. At the departure side of each wheel isa cam plate that returns the stairs to normal or horizontal position while proceeding to either end of the ramp.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of the escalator,

partly in section;

Figure 2 is a detail vertical section;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the stairs;

Figure 4 is a plan view;

Figure 5 is a section, partly diagrammatic, on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective View, partly in section, with the vertical walls removed;

Figures 7 and 8 are sections on the lines I--l and 8-8 of Figure 6; l

Figure 9 is a longitudinal vertical section ol the ascending portion;

Figure l0 is a detail plan view of the upper end; and 1 Figure 1l is a longitudinal vertical section of the descending portion.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

CTI

likewise encloses working parts.

The moving stair structure comprises an endless series of box-like stairs I2 as shown in Fig ure 3. In the center of each vertical side of each stair is iixed a slide rod I3 on which is slidably mounted a circular disc I4. The discs on adja- Vcent stairs are in peripheral contact with each -other and are joined by a horizontal pin I5 on which the discs are adapted to swivel, as will presently be described. The series of stairs lies in the two wells at opposite sides of the wall 5.

In the structures 6 and 9 at the lower and `upper platforms 2 and 3 are mounted rotatable wheels I6 and I'I respectively, each having a rough bevelled edge I'I'. The series of stairs passes around the both wheels, as shown in Figure 4, and the stairs tilt in passing around the wheels from one well to the other, as will be described.

Each end of each stair I2 carries a pair of rollers I8 and I 9 at the bottom, as shown in Figure 3, the rollers I9 extending outward beyond the rollers I8 to form a staggered series as may be seen in Figure 5. The rollers I8 and I9 are at approximately the same horizontal level and therefore at different distances from the ramp I, as shown in Figure 9. Consequently, they require separate rails. The inner rail at each side of the wall 5 (Figure 7) is a rolled shape having a channel 20, a half channel 2| adjacent thereto and another channel 22 below the half channel. The outer rail on each side is also a rolled shape having an upper channel 23 (Figure 8) and an offset lower channel 24. The upper channels receive those rollers that lie spaced from the surface of the ramp as shown in Figure 9. Structural characteristics of the escalator frame are responsible for the different shapes shown in Figures '7 and 8, although they are functionally alike.

The upper platform 3 carries double rails 25 (Figure 6) aligned with the several rails on the ramp. The platform also carries a pair of rollers 26 projecting over the descending side of the ramp to support the initially descending stair i2 as shown in Figure 2. The upper ends of the rails on the descending side have horizontal projections 21, to receive the initially descending rollers I8, I9. The lower platform 2 also carries horizontal rail sections 28, aligned with the inclined rails. The lower end portions 29 of the descending rails (Figure 6) are pivotally mounted at 30 to connect with the corresponding sections 28.

The stairs are propelled by their frictional engagement with the edges I'I of the Wheels I6, I'I which are driven by any suitable means. In passing around the wheels, the stairs cannot remain horizontal and yet retain their pivotal interconnections at the discs. Consequently they are swung on the pivot pins I5. This movement is introduced by the firm engagement of the stairs with the bevelled edges II of the Wheels It and II. On the approach side of each wheel the inclined stairs are additionally supported by a roller 3i mounted on a stationary bar 32 fixed over each wheel. The inclined stairs are returned to horizontal position by cam plates 33 and 34 at the departure or discharge side of each wheel, where the stairs are delivered to the corresponding platforms. Each platform carries a pair of serrated guide plates 35 at the ends of the ramp at each side of the wall side, to assist the passengers in stepping on and off the stairs.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In an escalator, a ramp, a platform at each end of the ramp, parallel rails on said ramp, an endless series of stairs over said rails, rollers on said stairs riding on said rails, vertical slide rods in opposite vertical sides of said stairs, a disc slidable on each rod, a horizontal pivot pin joining the discs of adjacent stairs, a horizontal rotatable wheel on each platform and having a bevelled edge, said series of stairs passing around said wheels and being in rm engagement with said edges, whereby the stairs are swung on said pivot pins by said edges on passing around the wheels.

2. In an escalator, a ramp, a platform at each end ofthe ramp, parallel rails on said ramp, an endless series of stairs over said rails, rollers on said stairs riding on said rails, vertical slide rods in opposite vertical sides of said stairs, a disc slidable on each rod, a horizontal pivot pin joining the discs of adjacent stairs, a horizontal rotatable wheel on each platform and having a bevelled edge, said series of stairs passing around said wheels and being in firm engagement with said edges, whereby the sta-irs are swung on said pivot pins by said edges on passing around the wheels, a roller mounted over each wheel 0n a fixed axis and engaging and supporting the stairs in their inclined position.

3. In an escalator, a ramp, a platform at each end of the ramp, parallel rails on said ramp, an endless series of stairs over said rails, rollers on said stairs riding on said rails, vertical slide rods in opposite vertical sides of said stairs, a disc slidable on each rod, a horizontal pivot pin joining the discs of adjacent stairs, a horizontal rotatable wheel on each platform and having a beveiled edge, said series of stairs passing around said wheels and being in firm engagement with said edges, whereby the stairs are swung on said pivot pins by said edges on passing around the wheels, and a cam on the departure side of each wheel and engageable by said stairs for returning the latter to normal position.

4. In an escalator, a ramp, a platform at each end of the ramp, parallel rails on said ramp, an endless series of stairs over said rails, rollers on said stairs riding on said rails, vertical slide rods in opposite vertical sides of said stairs, a disc slidable on each rod, a horizontal pivot pin joining the discs of adjacent stairs, a horizontal rotatable wheel on each platform and having a bevelled edge, said series of stairs passing around said wheels and being in firm engagement with said edges, whereby the stairs are swung on said pivot pins by said edges on passing around the wheels, a roller mounted over each Wheel on a fixed axis and engaging and supporting the stairs in their inclined position, and a cam on the departure side of each wheel and engageable by said stairs for returning the latter to normal p0- sition.

5. In an escalator as set forth in claim 1, the rollers being staggered lengthwise of each stair, and said rails having dual ways for receiving the rollers.

6. In an escalator as set forth in claim 1, thc rollers being provided in pairs at the ends of the stairs and being staggered lengthwise of each stair, said rails having dual ways for receiving the rollers, said ways being disposed at different distances from said ramp.

No references cited. 

